Entrance to the schools you mention isn't through the 11plus, they use their own exam, called The Herts Test. The sticky above explains in quite a bit of detail how it works. The schools are called "comprehensive" but actually select some of their intake on academic ability(each different amounts 25% Watford, 25% Parmiters, 10% Clement Danes etc) based on the Herts Test scores and some on musical aptitude (two tests) and I think a couple may also select on sporting ability.

They all do very well and probably do compare well with Grammars but some of the schools percentage of academic intake has been reduced in the last couple of years and things like the Cross-sibling rule (with Watford Boys and Girls) has gone this year, so just perhaps their high performance maybe be slightly reduced. Who knows. Anyway, all good schools and so all hard to get in to!

As newgirl has explained the schools you mention are partially selective - we don't have "true" grammars here in Herts which can select 100% of their pupils.

You asked whether they are good schools. By that people usually mean are the exam results impressive (not saying that's what you meant!) and they are, as Watmum has said. My DD is in Year 7 at Parmiter's. Yves has a child there too & once wrote "I have been pleasantly surprised what a lovely, WELL ADJUSTED place it is, and I put that down to the careful mix of selective entries, siblings and local intake. There is an almost perfect balance of high expectation, good morale, genuine acceptance of ALL abilities and strong family ethos". I totally agree - not only is Parmiter's academically strong but it has so much going for it. I am very happy with the mix.

I'm sure parents at the other schools will tell you similar stories. And despite the percentage of the academic intake being reduced I think they will all stay good schools for many years to come.

This means that even Watford Grammar is not actually a grammar school since it does not take all students based on the admission test. Am I right?

Can u tell me which are the proper grammar schools that students from the Watford/Garston area can go to?

1. Yes - it is only allowed to select 25% of its intake on academic grounds.

2. Not sure...if you have a son QE boys perhaps or HBS for girls, both in Barnet, very popular & oversubscribed. Depends how far you are prepared to travel. But if you live in Garston / Watford I'd have thought Parmiter's or Watford Grammar a good option. Remember you will only get three choices of school - I'd advise you to think carefully before only listing grammar schools in other areas.

Remember this area not only has some of the best schools in Herts but the worse too

All of the schools in the area run open evenings during October for children entering the following year. It is definitely exhausting going around them all (!) but it is the only way you will get a true feeling for which are going to be the best schools for your child. And most of all your child will get a feeling of where he / she will fit in.

All of the schools in the area run open evenings during October for children entering the following year. It is definitely exhausting going around them all (!) but it is the only way you will get a true feeling for which are going to be the best schools for your child. And most of all your child will get a feeling of where he / she will fit in.

Indeed. Start a year or two early if you can. Some of the less popular schools may change dramatically in a short time though.

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